Happy Birthday Kole

Kole is 20 years old on August 30th. We won't talk about how old that makes me. HeHe. Hope all of his dreams come true and he believes in himself.

Kole said to tell everyone hi

Got another very brief email from Kole. He is in IRAQ not at his final destination. It is hot and quiet. He did go to the range and enjoyed that. He said he would have internet connection where he is currently and at his final destination. He gave me no names of places. Other sources tell me the lines are long and I don't know how much time he gets. A relief to me to hear from him even if it is short and criptic.

I will hijack this site and give an update on Tonya as well. She started college on Monday. She is enjoying it and is excited. She is taking English, Algebra, How to Succeed in College and Russian. Her Russian is giving her the most challenge. Her teacher is Russian. There is an RM in the class who went to Czech Republic on his mission and has been helping her. She is taking Pearl of Great Price at the Institute. She travels to and from school on public transportation.

Me I am still shopping for a car since I totaled mine the 13th of August. I am looking for a Nissan Xterra. When I went through the consumer reports that was the best rating for what I wanted. Not alot of them at auctions that are 4 wheel drive. Work is fine. Still alot of stess and pressure regarding the bottom line and making a profit. I am still in the Primary presidency and love the primary. The kids are the best.

8/24/09

Heard from Kole. He was very brief. Sounds like he is in IRAQ. Says it is hot, food is good. He is getting plenty of rest and I don't need to worry about him. Yeah right, don't worry. Its a Mom thing. Actually I do understand what he is saying and I appreciate him reassuring me. He is a great son and I am proud of him.

He sent me a short email so that leads me to believe he will have email access while he is in IRAQ. He wasn't sure how he would be able to communicate while he was over there when he left. He kept hearing different things.

Off to IRAQ 8/23/09

Kole is headed for IRAQ. He will stop in Kuwait before continuing on to IRAQ. He said he was excited to go. They stopped in Bangor Maine before going to Kuwait. If you want to see pictures of them at the Bangor Maine terminal google freeport flag ladies and under bangor on the 20th you will find pictures. There is one of Kole in batch 12 about the 5th from the end.

I hope he calls from Kuwait. I understand the phone lines are long so he may not give me a call. Once I get an address I will post it.

My love and prayers to him and all those that serve.

Army Achievement Award

I spoke with Kole this week and he told me that while he was at JRTC (the predeployment training in May) he earned the Army Achievement Award and will get to add another ribbon to his uniform. I am proud of him.

He has been taking a class this week about systems that keep ied's from exploding. I hope he studied hard. He said they are happy when they don't hear anything because that means the system is working. Sounds like alot of responsibility as those systems keep the soldiers safe.

Back to base

On Friday evening Kole and I went to to visit with family. Saturday we went to the pioneer parade and then over to Aunt Joyce's to visit while we rounded up some 22 shells so we could go shooting. I shot the 22 pistol. After shooting we went to Grandpas and made homemade ice cream and visited. I took down a hand crank ice cream maker so some of them got to crank the ice cream maker. It was fun to see alot of the family and visit. Grandma came all the way from Colorado to wish Kole well on his deployment. Uncle Esker's family all came to see Kole off and visit. Daren and Cindy and Talmadge came over and ate ice cream with us. I missed seeing Virgil and Steven.

Sunday morning I took Kole to the airport and he is headed back to base. The day he leaves is always a tough day for me. It is fun to have him home for a visit. I wish him well on his next adventure.

Water skiing with Aunt Rhonda & Uncle Brent

On Wednesday, 7/22/09, Kole and I went water skiing with Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Brent, Tracey, her three children Coben, Ali, and Redley, Jessica, and Abuela (Verna). It was alot of fun. My arms are so sore they can hardly type this. Kole knee boarded, wake boarded, skiied and then rode the tube. I have some great memories of him flying through the air on the tube by himself. I could only hold on so long and then I would fall off the tube. Kole pulled me back on a couple of times or I would have fallen off sooner. I would hold on with my hands and even put one of my feet in the loops trying to stay on that thing as it went flying through the air. Kole also rode with Jessica and Tracey and they made it look easy to stay on the tube. Rhonda, Tracey and Abuela when on the tube and they even caught some air. I was very surprised that Abuela got on the tube as she does not like water. Of course she was smart enough to stay on the tube. Coben and Ali also rode the tube and swam in the water. Can't leave out the boat driver (Uncle Brent) as none of us could get out of the water without someone who knows how to pull skiers out of the water.

I tried wake boarding because Tracey made it look easy. Well it is harder getting out of the water than she makes it look. I was not able to get up on the wake board so I went back to my two skis. I can still get out of the water on two skiis and for me that is alot of fun. The lake was very smooth and the skiing was great.

Thanks Rhonda and Brent for a great time.